'I watch as he holds hands with that ditzy blonde and can't help but think that should be me. That should be me tasting the sweetness of his lips and feeling his strong embrace.'
"What are you thinking about, Rei?"
A young blonde in pigtails and a school girl uniform asked as she licked an ice cream cone that she held in one hand with her other arm wrapped around a dark haired older boy who stood next to her. The young Shinto Priestess with long raven black hair in red and white Priestess robes looked up from where she sat on the steps of the Shinto Shrine.
"Just what a beautiful day it is," she lied to one of her closest friends.
"Well, we wanted to invite you to dinner tonight at Mamoru's. The whole gang will be there."
"Sounds fun. I'll be there." Once more, Rei told a little lie in the fact she knew she would be the only one without a date tonight.
"Then we'll see you tonight." Mamoru flashed his winning smile at Rei as he and Usagi turned and left the Shrine. Rei turned at the sound of two crows squawking. She looked up to see Phobos and Deimos perched on a tree branch and gave them a slight smile.
"I know, you're right. I should be happy for them, but it's just so hard. I put up this façade of not needing a man in my life. But the truth is, I want someone to love and I want to be loved in return. Is that too much to ask?"
"No, it is not, Rei Hino."
"Who's there?" Rei looked around and saw no one.
"Get a hold of yourself, girl. Now you're hearing things. I guess that I should go get ready to join the gang for dinner."
Later that evening at Mamoru's apartment, Rei joined Usagi and Mamoru along with Makoto and Shinozaki as well as Ami and Ryo. Minako was not here this evening as she was attending to personal matters. After dinner, Usagi and Mamoru excuse themselves to do dishes while the rest lounge around the living room.
"Rei, is it true what they say, that you have psychic abilities?" Ryo asked politely.
"Well, I..."
"Ryo, that was rude!" Ami scolded her date.
"I'm sorry, Rei. I did not mean to offend you."
"No, it's all right, and yes, I'm able to do fire readings."
Rei only spoke a half-truth as she kept her abilities of having unprompted premonitions and dispelling evil spirits hidden.
"I would love to stop by the Shrine some time for a fire reading," Shinozaki spoke with a smile.
"Sure, just stop by any time." Rei smiled at him before her eyes went wide with shock as a vision of an attack on her person flashed before her eyes.
"Rei, is everything all right?" Makoto asked her friend with concern.
"I'm fine. I just remembered I have to help Grandpa at the Shrine in the morning. Good night everyone. Tell Usagi and Mamoru good night for me."
Rei picked up her purse and exited Mamoru's apartment. As she left the building, she knew in her heart that it was not the vision that bothered her. She could handle herself in a fight. Rather it was the sight of her friends happy while she was by herself. Even Minako rediscovered the love she shared with Artemis in their past lives since he has been able to resume his human form. Of course, she would not begrudge her friends their happiness. Why could she not share in it? As she walked along, Rei was so caught up in her thoughts she did not hear as a group of four punks came up and surrounded her.
"Well, well what have we here? Out for a little evening strolling, sweet cheeks?"
"I don't want any trouble," Rei spoke calmly as she shifted into a fighting stance and thought, 'Damn it, why didn't I pay attention to that vision?'
"Neither do we, darling. We're just looking to party."
"Look elsewhere."
One of the punks came close and Rei decked him in the jaw with a fierce right hook. As he was laid out on the ground, he yelled to his friends, "Get that bitch!" Rei delivered a spinning heel kick to the side of the head of another one of the punks before the other two grabbed her arms and subdued her.
"Oh, you're going to pay for fucking with us, bitch."
The punk who Rei had decked with a hard right was now to his feet. As his friends held Rei, he reared back his fist. As he went to swing, someone took hold of his arm.
"Perhaps I can pay the young lady's tab."
The punk turned to see a young man with dark hair in a brown jacket with white turtleneck and brown slacks. The punk turned and took a swing at the young man who ducked before he delivered a blow to the gut of the punk. He quickly took a trashcan lid and smashed it into the punk's face as he came up. The two punks that held Rei dropped her to the ground and she watched as this young man took out the other three punks with excellent martial arts skills. After he had disposed of the four punks, he walked over and held out his hand to Rei, who blushed as she accepted his hand and rose to her feet.
"Thank you so much for your help."
"Don't mention it. It turns my stomach to see punks like that mistreat a lady. Allow me to introduce myself. I'm Ryoji Sasaki.
"I'm Rei Hino. Have we met before? Your voice sounds familiar."
"No, I'm afraid not. I'm new in town. I have just enrolled in the University of Tokyo."
"That's funny, I have a friend who attends classes there. What is your major if I may ask?"
"Certainly, I'm majoring in history."
"Sounds like a fascinating subject."
"That it is. May I escort you home Rei?"
She knew it was not the wisest choice to allow a total stranger to walk her home, but he did just save her after all.
"Sure, Ryoji. I live at the Shinto Shrine just a few blocks away."
"I have been by there. It's a very beautiful place."
They walked the few blocks to the Shrine and shared a conversation to get to know one another. As they reached the top of the steps, Rei turned and looked him in the eyes and found herself drawn to him.
"Will I see you again, Ryoji?"
"I would like that, Rei."
He ran his hand along her cheek as she blushed. Then he leaned over and softly kissed her under the full moon light on the steps of the Shrine as she thought to herself, 'I've just met this man, but somehow this feels right.'
To be continued
